Dispenser for sheet material



Feb. 13, 1951 Q G, ANDERSQN 2,541,144

DISPENSER FOR SHEET MATERIAL Filed June 9, 1948 Patented Feb. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to dispensers for sheet material, and more particularly to dispensers for :lter discs and the like.

It has long been a problem to satisfactorily handle filter discs so that they may be transferred from their shipping cartons or packages to a point of use in a sanitary condition. At the present time State statutes require that all milk sold to the public be iiltered as it is poured from an open milking pail or the like to a shipping container. The purpose of this iilter is obviously to provide clean milk to the ultimate consumer by keeping the bacteria count in the milk at a minimum. At the present time this is not always possible. For example, most nltering mechanisms comprise an annular clamping device for retaining a removable filter disc. At frequent intervals the lter disc must be changed. This is done simply by releasing the lter clamping mechanism and removing the filter disc, by hand, and then placing a clean filter disc, by hand, in the lter retaining device. Unless the milker is extremely careful, handling the clean filter disc in this manner usually results in contaminating the disc since the bacteria and the like from his hands, which frequently are none too clean. get on the iilter disc and then during the filtering process the bacteria, transferred from his hands to the filter, get into the milk. The bacteria are not kept to a minimum and the purpose of the lter is defeated. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for transferring lllter discs from their original containers to a point of use in a sanitary condition.

Another obect of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the a-bove character that is positive in its action, that is rugged and sturdy, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the above character for transferring a lter disc from its original container to a point of use that does not tear or damage the filter disc so that it is unusable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. novel dispensing mechanism of the above character that may also be used for handling sheet material.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the dispenser;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view with parts shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the com` ponent parts in a retracted position; n

Fig. 5 is a sectional fragmentary view showing the dispenser resting on a stack of lter discs and with the component parts of the dispenser in the position shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but with the component parts of the dispenser in the position shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the dispenser showing the dispenser with a filter disc attached thereto in a position above the stack.

The invention is concerned with a dispensing device for sheet material and the like. Referring now particularly to the drawings the invention is shown embodied in a dispenser for lter discs l2 of the type conventionally used in dairies for ltering milk as it is poured from a milking pail into a milk shipping container. These discs are generally circular in form and may comprise a layer I3 of gauze and one or more layers I4 of cotton filter material mounted in side by side relation with the gauze to form a composite laminated structure.

In this embodiment the dispenser comprises a body I6, in the form of a circular disc of slightly smaller d=ameter than the diameter of the filters l2 as seen in Fig. 7. Projecting outwardly from one side of the disc IB is a handle l1, rigidly secured to the disc I6. For this purpose the lower end of the handle I1 is formed with a reduced portion providing a shoulder I8. The reduced portion is shaped to project through an aperture in the disc It so that the shoulder i8 engages one side of the disc. The extreme lower end I9 of the handle is then peened over 'to engage the opposite side of the disc so that the handle IT is rigidly secured thereto. The outer end of the handle il terminates in an enlarged head portion 2l. Extending radially of the disc I6 is a plurality of resilient arms or lingers 22. For purposes of illustration four arms are shown although it is to be understood that any desired number of arms may be employed. Adjacent the periphery of the disc I6 the ends 23 (see Fig. 2) of the arms 22 extend through radially disposed apertures 24 formed in the disc I6. The arms 22 are mounted for movement'between preselected positions shown respectively in Figs. 3 and 4. In

Fig. 3 the lower sides of the arms 22 adjacent the outer ends 23 rest on the inwardly disposed walls' 25 of the apertures 24 and the upper sides of the arms 22 engage the outwardly disposed walls 30 of the apertures 24 so that the ends 23 are inclined at a relatively small angle with respect to the bottom surface of the disc I6. In Fig. 4 the arms 22Vare positioned so that the upper sides of the arms 22 engage the outwardly disposed walls 3U of the apertures 24 so that the ends 23 are displaced radially inwardly from their position shown in Fig. 3 and the ends 23 are inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to the bottom surface of the disc I6. To effect this movement of the arms 22 their opposite ends are xedly secured to one end of a sleeve 26 encircling the handle 'I1 and movable between the head portion 2I and the disc I6. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 7 the diametrically opposite arms 22 extend outwardly from collars 2T and are formed as single stampings. These collars are slipped over a reduced end portion at the lower end of the sleeve 2B and are positioned by a shoulder 28 formed on the sleeve 26. The extreme lower end of the sleeve 26 is peened over as shown at 29 to .iixedly secure the collars 27 and the arms 22 to the sleeve 2,6. At its upper end the sleeve `26 is provided -with lateral extensions l3| vextending outwardly from a collar .32k slipped over a reduced portion :at the upper end of :the sleeve 26. The collar vrests against a shoulder 33 `and is secured in this position as by peening over the :extreme ,upper .end 34 ofthe sleeve 26. The sleeve Y26 is normally biased to the position lin which `the extreme -lower end v29 abuts against the .disc I6 yas byspring 36. As -best seen in Fig. 3 vthe spring .embraoesan in` termediate portion of the handle i? `and acts between a shoulder 3-1 :formed at the upper endon the handle I1 and a shoulder Y3B formed yat the lowerzend of the Vsleeve v26.

I,The outer ends 23 of the arms 22 are preferably formed as needle pointsas `best seen in Fig. ,2 so that theycan penetrate the lter `discs `With-- out damaging them. Disposed adjacent each needle point /23 is a guard 39 which may be formed by depressing a portion of the disc `I6 .outwardly from the disc in the directionrof the vneedle points 23. The purpose of :the guards is to prevent accidental contact by the operator with the needle points 23. Preferably the guards should eiitenxl slightly below the needle points when vthe latter are in their retracted `positions such `as shown -in Fig. .Bise that V`when the dispenser is placed on a at surface the Aneedle -points are not bent .or-

damaged.

The component parts-'of the dispenser maybe formed from 'any suitablernaterial. It is -preferable however to utilize materials such as aluminum or stainless steels which do not readily corrode to a point at which the parts v.are unusable.

The parts may be molded, die-cast, formed from metal stampings. or other suitableV processes.

,To utilize thedispenser the unit is grasped .so that `the operators middle iingcrand index iinger are disposed below .the Ilateral extensions 3.! n, opposite sides y,of `the .handle i? and the .thumbY ofthe-operator rests on the head 2i. rEhe lateral extensions are then .pulled upwardlyso that the sleeve 26 lmoved tothe position shown in Fig. li. In pulling the sleeve to theposition shown in Fig; 4 therends '23 of the `arms 22 are pulled upwardly -in unison with movementwof the J sleeve The pointed ends 23 ofthe arms 22 engage the'outcr Vside walls 36 of .the apertures Zand dueto the resiliency of the =iarms areof. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 5. The operator then releases the extensions 3 I. The spring 36 acts tomove the sleeve 26 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3. As the arms 22 return to this position the ends 23 of the arms are caused to be displaced radially outwardly from their position shown in Fig. 4 to penetrate the upper layer i4 of iilter material on the iilter disc 'i2 such as vshown in Fig. 6 and the arms engage both the inner walls 25 and the -outer walls 3U of the apertures 24. With the parts shown in Figi. 6 the top disc on the stock is securely xed to the dispenser. Thereafter the operator grasps the lateral extensions 3! between the middle and index fingers and raises the dispenser with the disc I-Z secured thereto from the stack as shown in Fig. 7. The dispenser and disc I2 may be then transferredV to any desired station. When it is desired to release the filter disc I2 from theV dispenser it is only necessary for the operatorto again place his thumb on the head ZI and vapply a pressure between the heard-i tand the extensions ai so that the sleeve -26 -moves toits outerpcsition against the action of `thespring 36. Asthefsleeve' is Imovedto its outer "position the ineedle points 213 are displaced `radially inwardlyfrom their :position shown vin Fig. `6 to be withdrawnfrom thedisc; filter i2 so that they Aagain assume the position" shown-in Fig. 5. v.During k:this movement ofthe needle ,points 123 `the l'Lilter vdisc :I2 :abuts :against the disc' VI6 andis in eflectsstrippedifromthe dispenser. Y

From the aforegoing itis to be understood that' the :transfer of a filter :disc .from zits original con-S tainer may be made in .a sanitary condition zand that A'the'operat/ors hands need never touch the' lterdisc. `its a result, milkers utilizing .thisilter' dispenser vare rassured that there is a minimum of contamination of the viilter disc. `It is tob'e 1111-' derstood also lthat the Aends '23 -of lthe -arms'v2'2f are formed :as vneedle points so that when' they engage the ilter discithey do not tear the disc orcausefholesto betorn therein duringV the'transfer or" a lter disc from sits'original container tol itsipoint of use.

`I claim:

I1. In a dispensing device for lter discs and the like, the combination of a body Yhaving asubstan-- tially smooth flat surface on the side a handle rigidly attached to andextending outwardly from the other side of said body, a pluralityof 'radially extending resilient arms, veach of said arms hav-vA ing a rst end disposed to terminateon said one side lof said body adjacent 'the iiat surface and shaped to penetrate a lter disc and a .secondf end von the other side of said body .and :disposed adjacent the handle, said rst end lbeing'movable between Va position in which vit is inclinediata relativelylarge angle with respect tofsaidratslirface of the rbody to facilitate engagement and disengagement of said -end with Vva-disc when the latter is disposed 4adjacent athe rvflat surface Aand a position in which said rst end is inclined :at :av-g relatively small angle to said `iiat surface fof the; body and displaced radially from its i'irstposition and penetrates .the disc to Vsecurelit against said VAsurface :of the body, and vmeans connected to the .second endk of Aeach y,armV movable relative: 'toi` said handle between Vpreselected 'positions fior Let#vr fecting movement :of the rlrst ends between `the aforegoing positions. l

2. The comlcjination of claim 1 Vwith spring means for biasing said last mentioned means to, one of its preselected positions. l

3. In a dispensing device, the combination of a support having a surface on one side shaped to permit face to face Contact with a filter disc and the like and having a plurality of annularly spaced apertures defined in part by inner and outer radially disposed side walls, a handle rigidly connected to and extending outwardly from the other side of said support, a plurality of radially extending arms mounted on said support, each of said arms having a portion disposed on the side of the support from which the handle projects and a portion extending through one of the apertures to said one side of the body and terminating in a sharply pointed end adjacent said surface, and means for moving said arms between positions in which the pointed end portions engage the outer side walls dening the apertures to cause the pointed ends to be disposed at a relatively large angle with respect to said surface and a position in which the pointed end portions engage both the inner and outer side walls of the apertures to cause said pointed ends to be inclined at a relatively small angle with respect to said surface and to be radially displaced from their rst position.

4. In a dispenser for lter discs and the like, the combination of a support having a handle on one side and a surface on the other side shaped for face to face contact with a lter disc, radially disposed means mounted on said support for engagement with a filter disc when the latter is disposed adjacent said surface, and means for moving said latter means between a position in which said first means is inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to said surface to be positioned to penetrate a filter disc in contact with said surface and a position in which the rst means is inclined at a relatively small angle with respect to said surface and displaced radially from its rst position to be positioned to penetrate but not pierce said filter disc to secure the latter adjacent said surface.

5. A dispenser for filter discs and the like, comprising a support, a handle rigid with said support having a surface on one side shaped for face to face contact with a filter disc and extending outwardly therefrom on the other side, a sleeve mounted on said handle for movement between preselected positions, a plurality of resilient arms mounted on said support and extending radially thereof, said arms having an end connected to said sleeve and a pointed end projecting through said support, each pointed end being movable between a position in which it is inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to said surface to engage a filter disc when the sup-port rests thereon and a position in which it is inclined at a relatively small angle to said surface and disposed radially outwardly from its rst position for securing the filter disc adjacent the opposite side of the support.

6. In a dispensing device for sheet material, the combination of a body having a surface on one side shaped for face to face contact with a and extending outwardly from the other side thereof, a plurality of radially extending resilient arms, each of said arms having a rst end disposed adjacent said surface of said body and a second end disposed on the other side to be adjacent the handle, said first end being movable between a position in which it is inclined at a wsheer, of material, a handle rigid with said body relatively large angle with respect to said surface for engaging and releasing a sheet of material when the latter is disposed adjacent said surface and a position in which said iirst end is inclined at a relatively small angle to said surface and displaced radially from its rst position to penetrate said sheet of material to secure the latter adjacent the body, and means connected to the second end of each arm movable relative to said handle for effecting movement of the rst ends between the aforegoing positions.

7. The combination recited in claim 6 in which the rst ends of the arms are formed as needle points.

8. rThe combination in claim 6 with guards formed on the body adjacent the first ends of the arms shaped to project outwardly from said surface and positioned to protect the ends from damage and being accidentally contacted by an operator.

9. In a dispensing device for lter discs and the like, the combination of a circular disc having a bottom surface shaped to have face to face contact with a filter disc and having a plurality of annularly spaced apertures spaced outwardly from the center of said disc, a handle rigid with said disc and extending outwardly from the top sui-face thereof, a head on said handle adapted to provide a rest for an operators thumb, a plurality of radially extending resilient arms, each of said arms having a first portion extending through one of said apertures and terminating adjacent the bottom surface and shaped to penetrate a filter disc, each of said arms having a second portion on the top surface of said body disposed adjacent the handle, said first portion being movable between a position in which it is inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to said bottom surface of the disc to facilitate engagement of said first portion with a lter disc when the latter is disposed adjacent the bottom surface and a position in which said first portion is inclined atv a relatively small angle to said bottom surface and displaced radially from its first position and penetrates the filter disc to secure it against the bottom surface, a sleeve connected with each of said second portions of the arms and mounted on said handle for movement between opposed positions to eiTect the above described movements of the first portion of each arm, and lateral extensions on the sleeve positioned to be grasped by a pair of fingers of the operator whereby a pulling force between the thumb and the pair of fingers of the operator moves said sleeve between said opposed positions.

l0. The combination recited in claim 9 in which the first portions of the arms terminate in needle points and means is provided on the bottom surface for limiting the penetration of the needle points into the lter disc to :permit penetration and prevent piercing thereof.

CARL G. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 441,721 'Irumbore Dec. 2, 1890 965,590 Lokody July 26, 1910 2,108,145 Short Feb. 15, 1938 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,541,144 February 13, 1951 CARL G. ANDERSON It is hereby certied that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, line 49, for the Words the side a read one side, a; column 5, lines 45 and 46, strike out having a surface on one side shaped for face to face contact With a filter dise and insert the same in line 44, after support and before the comma;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oiiice.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of April, A. D. 1951.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Gommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

